Chapter 348 The Truth (Second Update)
At the same time, Consort Zhuang also asked the Empress Dowager Zhuang at Renshou Palace.
She said with great enthusiasm, "Aunt, you did this, didn't you? I knew you were capable and could fool His Majesty! This is what you call winning by surprise! Consort Jing thought that moving back to the palace would cause trouble for you, but she didn't expect you to be a cut above the rest. With just a little trickery, you reconciled with His Majesty! Why didn't you do this sooner, Aunt?"
Mrs. Zhuang looked at her expressionlessly.
Consort Zhuang's heart skipped a beat under her gaze. She shrank back and said awkwardly, "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong? The whole palace is saying that the culprit who poisoned Xiao Heng has been found—it's Zhang Xiu. How did you come up with the idea of making Zhang Xiu take the blame? Zhang Xiu is His Majesty's man, so naturally you couldn't have ordered her around. The suspicion has been cleared so thoroughly!"
"Have you finished speaking?" Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly. "I need to look at the memorials now."
Consort Zhuang pursed her lips, bowed, and took her leave.
The news of Zhang Xiu poisoning Xiao Heng spread quickly, and soon the entire palace learned the truth about Xiao Heng's murder. The emperor had misunderstood Empress Dowager Zhuang for many years, and now that the truth was out, it was understandable that he would take the initiative to reconcile with her.
Admittedly, some believe this was a smokescreen by the emperor, who ostensibly used the Zhang Xiu incident to express remorse and filial piety to Empress Dowager Zhuang, but in reality, he was trying to lull her into a false sense of security, get close to her, and gain her trust so that he could catch her off guard and kill her later.
Empress Xiao sat in Huaqing Palace for a while before returning to Kunning Palace to take care of Qin Chuyu.
The Emperor looked at Consort Jing: "How is Mother's injury?"
Consort Jing smiled and said gently, "It's nothing serious."
The emperor's expression remained unchanged. He said solemnly, "The imperial physician said that Mother Consort still needs careful recuperation and daily medication. This cannot be neglected. Granny Cai, you must take good care of Mother Consort."
"Yes," Granny Cai replied respectfully.
The Emperor hummed in agreement and said to Consort Jing, "Then I will go to the Imperial Study first. If you feel that Huaqing Palace is too stuffy, Mother, you can take a sedan chair to the Imperial Garden for a walk. The Imperial Physician said that staying cooped up in the room all the time is not good for your recovery."
"Your Majesty need not worry about me. With Your Majesty's divine protection, I am in good health. But Your Majesty..." Consort Jing said, her gaze falling on his slightly haggard brows, "Your Majesty looks tired. Have you been reviewing memorials all night again?"
The emperor smiled nonchalantly and said, "Recently, many areas have suffered from torrential rains, resulting in severe disasters, and there have inevitably been more memorials submitted."
Consort Jing took his hand and earnestly instructed him, "You must take care of your health."
The Emperor patted Consort Jing's hand and smiled, "Your son will be careful."
The Empress Dowager Jing's expression softened slightly, and then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Have you been using the calming incense that Granny Cai gave you?"
"Yes," the emperor said.
"Is it working well?" Consort Jing asked.
The emperor smiled and said, "The spices that my mother personally prepared are naturally of good quality."
The emperor comforted Consort Jing with a few more words before getting up and going to the imperial study.
He didn't come to have lunch with Consort Jing at noon; he ate in the Imperial Study.
Eunuch Wei went to the imperial kitchen and instructed the cooks to prepare a few delicious dishes, though the variety was limited.
The emperor used to be extravagant when he ate, but after living in Bishui Hutong, he simplified his three meals a day considerably.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Eunuch Wei returned to Huaqing Palace to retrieve several memorials that had been left in the small study the previous night.
As he came out of the small study, he encountered Consort Jing and Granny Cai walking towards him.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine." Eunuch Wei bowed while holding the memorial.
Granny Cai bowed slightly to him.
He also bowed slightly.
In terms of rank, he was above Granny Cai, but the palace was never a place where rank was the only measure of power. The emperor respected Consort Jing, and when she attained power, even her chickens and dogs were elevated to heaven.
Consort Jing looked at him gently: "Eunuch Wei, how many years have you served His Majesty?"
Without much thought, Eunuch Wei replied almost immediately, "This servant has been serving Your Majesty since you were fourteen years old, and it has been thirty years since then."
Consort Jing nodded: "Do you still remember who chose you to serve His Majesty?"
Eunuch Wei was slightly taken aback, not understanding why Consort Jing would suddenly ask this. He replied truthfully, "It is Your Highness, Consort Jing."
Consort Jing stared at him intently: "Then can I trust you?"
She used the name of the Empress.
Eunuch Wei's expression turned solemn. He clutched the memorial tightly in one hand, and with the other, he lifted his robe and knelt down: "What are your orders, Your Highness? This servant will obey even unto death!"
Consort Jing raised her hand to help him up: "Get up and talk. What do you mean by death? You are an old servant of His Majesty. His Majesty cannot do without you. I am just too worried about His Majesty. I don't trust what others say, so I came to ask you."
Eunuch Wei broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to let Consort Jing support his lowly body. He quickly stood up, bowed his head, and said, "Your Highness, please feel free to ask whatever you wish to ask."
Consort Jing asked, "How is His Majesty's health?"
Eunuch Wei had expected Consort Jing to ask if it was true that His Majesty had reconciled with Empress Dowager Zhuang, but to his surprise, she was concerned about His Majesty's health.
Eunuch Wei felt ashamed for misunderstanding Consort Jing. He said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has been having trouble sleeping and eating lately."
Consort Jing's eyes flickered: "Is it because you feel mentally disoriented and have nightmares at night?"
“Indeed…” Eunuch Wei was taken aback. “Eh? How did the Imperial Concubine know?”
Consort Jing sighed: "I knew it. When I spoke to him just now, he seemed a bit listless. I asked him if he had been reviewing memorials all night, and he said there were too many. I guess he couldn't sleep, just like when he was a child. This child, when he's under a lot of pressure, he has nightmares and then he wants me to hold him to sleep... I thought that after so many years, he would have grown up and would never be like he was when he was a child again."
Eunuch Wei said, "Your Majesty is worried about His Majesty."
Consort Jing smiled bitterly: "He is my son. I raised him with my own hands and feet. How can I not worry about him? By the way, did the calming incense I gave His Majesty work for him? It was a prescription I obtained from a highly virtuous monk. It can cure His Majesty's insomnia and excessive dreaming."
Eunuch Wei: "Used."
Consort Jing: "You really used it?"
Eunuch Wei chuckled awkwardly, "It was indeed used. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, I can get you the incense ash."
Consort Jing smiled and said, "No need. I trust you. In the entire Huaqing Palace, besides me, you are the only one who is truly sincere to His Majesty."
Eunuch Wei bowed slightly: "This servant is terrified."
Consort Jing handed him a box: "This is a new calming incense, and it's even more effective than the last one. Take it and give it to His Majesty. I hope His Majesty will no longer be troubled by nightmares. If it works, come back to me. I have plenty more."
Eunuch Wei took the box and said, "Yes."
Consort Jing said, "Then I'll be going now."
Eunuch Wei bowed and said, "Respectfully seeing off the Imperial Concubine."
After Consort Jing left, Eunuch Wei took the memorial and the calming incense to the Imperial Study and told the Emperor about his encounter with Consort Jing.
The emperor chuckled: "I don't remember anything from when I was a child, and neither do you. Who told you to be so talkative and tell Mother about my situation? You made her worry."
Eunuch Wei explained, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has noticed that you are not feeling well. If we keep it from her, won't it only make her more anxious?"
The emperor shook his head: "Never mind."
Eunuch Wei smiled and said, "Then this calming incense..."
The Emperor said, "Since it is a token of my mother's goodwill, then let's keep it and try it out tonight."
At night, Eunuch Wei lit the calming incense that Consort Jing had recently sent for the emperor. This incense seemed to smell no different from the usual calming incense, only a bit stronger.
The emperor indeed soon fell asleep.
Eunuch Wei thought to himself that he could finally get a good night's sleep and rest.
But to everyone's surprise, the emperor had another nightmare shortly after falling asleep.
This time, he didn't dream of lying stiff and unable to move on his bed, completely at the mercy of others. He dreamed that he lost his footing and fell off a cliff, grabbing onto a vine on the edge of the cliff at the last second.
Below him was a bottomless abyss; if the vines broke, he would fall and be smashed to pieces.
He shouted desperately, "Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"
Finally, someone came over.
It's Consort Jing!
Consort Jing knelt down.
He was so moved he almost cried; his mother was truly the person who loved him most in the world.
However, Consort Jing did not try to pull him up; instead, she took out a dagger and cut his vines in half.
"ah--"
The weightlessness of falling into an abyss jolted the emperor awake from his sleep. He sat up, gasping for breath!
Hearing the commotion, Eunuch Wei, without even bothering to put on his shoes, came over with an oil lamp and asked, "Your Majesty!"
He was startled to see the emperor's pale face and cold sweat: "Is Your Majesty having another nightmare?"
"I...I..." The emperor clutched his chest, his body trembling slightly uncontrollably.
The dream I just had was terrifying; the feeling of falling into an abyss was worse than being stabbed a thousand times with a knife.
It was just a nightmare. He was the emperor, not a coward. How could he be so frightened?
He despises himself.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea." After putting down the oil lamp, Eunuch Wei poured a cup of cool tea to calm his nerves.
The emperor gulped down the drink, but it didn't calm him down much.
"I can't sleep, I'll go read some memorials."
Unable to dissuade him, Eunuch Wei had no choice but to bring the memorial from the Imperial Study.
But the emperor couldn't calm down at all; the fear from his nightmares clung to him like a leech, refusing to leave his body.
The emperor, feeling agitated, put down the memorial: "I'm going out for a walk; there's no need for them to follow me."
"yes."
Eunuch Wei, carrying a lantern, left Huaqing Palace with the emperor.
The emperor wandered aimlessly.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at Kunning Palace.
Eunuch Wei asked softly, "Your Majesty, do you wish to go to the Empress's residence? This servant will go and inform her."
The emperor gazed at the tightly closed palace gates and said calmly, "No need. It's late. Don't wake the Empress Dowager."
Eunuch Wei was taken aback.
Empress Dowager?
Isn't this where Empress Xiao lives?
Empress Dowager Zhuang moved to Renshou Palace long after the late emperor's death.
Eunuch Wei looked at the emperor with a bewildered expression. The emperor suddenly came to his senses and looked at him suspiciously: "What did I just say?"
Eunuch Wei was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Ah, no, it's nothing. His Majesty said it's late and he won't wake the Empress."
Perhaps I misheard.
Your Majesty is referring to the Empress, not the Empress Dowager.
"Empress..." The Emperor's expression faltered for a moment, then he suddenly frowned and said, "How did I end up here? Why didn't you warn me? In the middle of the night, you've disturbed the palace and caused another ruckus!"
"...Uh, yes, it's the servant's fault."
Eunuch Wei felt extremely wronged.
Once you left Huaqing Palace, it was as if you had made up your mind to rush here. Who could stop you?
"Go back," the emperor said irritably.
The emperor didn't sleep much that night, and changed his clothes and went to court promptly after 3 a.m.
He was so exhausted that he almost fell asleep on the dragon throne.
Empress Dowager Zhuang declared with an imposing and domineering air: "If you have something to say, speak now; otherwise, the court is adjourned!"
That aggressive tone clearly conveys the message that anyone who dares to cause trouble will be in for a beating.
All the civil and military officials said they had nothing to report.
Eunuch Wei announced at the top of his lungs, "Court adjourned—"
After leaving the Golden Palace, Empress Dowager Zhuang boarded her phoenix palanquin. She glanced at the emperor, who was putting on a show and watching her leave from the palanquin, and said sarcastically, "Don't die of exhaustion before you catch the murderer!"
The emperor said coldly, "No need for Your Majesty to worry, I am perfectly fine!"
"Someone's coming!" Eunuch Wei warned.
The Emperor and Empress Dowager Zhuang instantly put on a smiling face!
After returning to Huaqing Palace, Eunuch Wei was invited by Granny Cai to the Autumn Flower Pavilion of Consort Jing.
Consort Jing was copying Buddhist scriptures when she saw him approach. She smiled and asked gently, "Did Your Majesty sleep well last night? Did you have any more nightmares?"
Eunuch Wei looked hesitant.
Consort Jing's smile gradually faded: "What's wrong? Is His Majesty still unable to fall asleep?"
"She did sleep, but..." Eunuch Wei sighed helplessly, "she had another nightmare and was quite frightened."
The calligraphy brush in Consort Jing's hand fell onto the table with a thud. The brush tip rolled around once and then rolled off the table to the floor, thus soiling the page of scripture she had just copied.
"How could this be?" she murmured in disbelief.
Eunuch Wei gave the Empress Dowager a strange look.
Granny Cai hurriedly knelt down, picked up the brush and put it away, wiped the ink on the floor with a handkerchief, and said, "The hearts of parents are all the same. It is understandable that Your Majesty is worried about His Majesty's health. I understand Your Majesty's feelings! But Your Majesty, you must take good care of yourself! The imperial physician said that your injuries have not yet healed and you should not overwork or worry!"
Eunuch Wei looked at Consort Jing.
Consort Jing looked on in disbelief. She gripped the Buddhist scriptures on the table so tightly that she crumpled them into a ball.
Eunuch Wei was utterly astonished.
Granny Cai grabbed Consort Jing's wrist and looked at her intently, saying, "Your Highness, please hold on! His Majesty is already working so hard for the country; you can't let yourself get sick from worrying!"
So you were just too worried about His Majesty? Eunuch Wei sighed inwardly and said, "I'll have the imperial physician come to the Empress Dowager's place later."
Granny Cai said gratefully, "Thank you so much, Eunuch Wei!"
Eunuch Wei replied politely, "It's my duty, I should do it."
Granny Cai smiled and said, "I'll see Eunuch Wei out."
Eunuch Wei declined, saying, "No need. Granny Cai should take good care of the Imperial Concubine."
Granny Cai insisted on seeing him to the door, smiling as she watched Eunuch Wei disappear at the end of the corridor before her smile faded and she returned to Qiuhua Pavilion.
She looked at Consort Jing with concern: "Your Majesty!"
Consort Jing casually adjusted her wide sleeves: "Alright, I'm fine now."
The imperial physician went to the imperial study to take the emperor's pulse and said that the emperor was suffering from excessive worry, overwork, and liver fire. He prescribed a formula to replenish qi, strengthen the body, and calm the mind.
The emperor scoffed, "It's that same prescription again. I've taken it countless times, and it's never worked."
Eunuch Wei's eyes darted around: "How about... we go find the little miracle doctor?"
The emperor snorted, "Didn't you hear her say that she will never come to Huaqing Palace for treatment again?"
Eunuch Wei laughed and said, "If she doesn't come to us, we can go to her! You can't keep going like this. You've frightened the Empress Dowager!"
The emperor frowned, but was eventually persuaded. He and Eunuch Wei changed into their outdoor clothes and went to Miaoshoutang by carriage.
However, they were told that Gu Jiao was not there.
Doctor Song had met Eunuch Wei before and knew that his master was Qin Chuyu's father, an official of the imperial court. He cupped his hands in greeting and said politely, "Miss Gu has gone on a house call."
"When will you be back?" Eunuch Wei asked.
Doctor Song said, "She didn't say, but I reckon she won't be coming back to the clinic today. She has to pick up Jingkong from school later. Don't you know where she lives? Why don't you just go to her house and find her there?"
The master and servant then went to Bishui Hutong.
Gu Jiao had not yet returned, so Madam Yao invited the two of them into the house.
Today, Granny Zhou's two daughters-in-law, along with Aunt Liu and her sister, came to ask Madam Yao for needlework advice. The room was packed with women, and Aunt Liu's eyes were always on the Emperor.
The emperor's scalp tingled with fear!
Madam Yao smiled and invited the emperor to her aunt's room: "Your Majesty... Master, why don't you sit in the room for a while? Jiaojiao will be back soon."
"Thank you, Madam Gu," the Emperor said politely.
Aunt Liu sneaked over.
The emperor was so frightened that he immediately bolted the door!
The emperor sat in a small, cramped room, the light was dim because the doors and windows were closed, but the more dim the light was, the more his other senses were amplified.
He smelled a faint, warm scent.
It happened in my distant memory.
When Gu Jiao returned after picking up Xiao Jingkong, she heard Eunuch Wei talking about the emperor's insomnia. She went to knock on her aunt's door, but there was no response after knocking for a long time.
Eunuch Wei was terrified: "Has something happened to His Majesty?!"
Gu Jiao pulled out a dagger and pried open the door bolt.
Eunuch Wei hurriedly pushed open the door and rushed in: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty..."
He was dumbfounded.
The emperor, who had vowed not to sleep, was now sprawled out on the bed, drooling and snoring away, sleeping soundly!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
